Kazoom Fest to Bring Multicultural Kazooms Kids' iStoryBooks to Life Onstage

CHICAGO - April 12, 2018 - PRLog -- KaZoom Kids Books (www.kazoomkidsbooks.com), an interactive digital publishing company dedicated to bringing greater diversity to children's literature, announces KaZoom Fest, a collaboration with the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA).

HSA's youngest theater and acting students, and some of their parents, will bring three KaZoom iStorybook titles to life as three short plays complete with theatrical performances, music, and choreography provided by Harlem School of the Arts' theater, music and dance departments. The three stories are Taking the E Train and Everybody Loves Cake by Lapacazo Sandoval, and Alyssa Marissa and Her Magical Hair by Angela Williams. Both authors will attend the event and discuss their work prior to the show.

Representing and immersing children of color in stories and the arts is an aim that resonates deeply with both KaZoom and Harlem School of the Arts.

"It does so much for children's confidence to see themselves in the stories they read. But finding those stories is not always easy for parents of color" explains Donna Beasley, founder and CEO of KaZoom Kids Books. "In 2016, only six percent of children's literature included children of color. Our goal at KaZoom is to change that. That's why we've created the KaZoom Kids iStorybooks App–it offers a whole library of stories about characters and families from different cultures and their experiences that kids can interact with through sound and animation and all the other interactive features that a digital platform offers."

Similarly, Harlem School of the Arts is committed to empowering young people from across the multi-cultural and socio-economic spectrum by offering them a strong community in which they can take part.

"Harlem School of the Arts to me, has always felt like an extended family," says Artistic Director Alfred Pressier. "Students and families come here, experience defining moments in their lives, and stay connected literally through successive generations." Of the nearly 4,000 students who participate in HSA's programs, more than 85% are African American or Latino.

KaZoom Fest will take place at the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) Theater, 649 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York on Friday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 (advance sales) or $15 (at door). Tickets can be purchased by going to www.hsanyc.org or at Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3232315

CONTACT

Donna Beasley

Founder and President, KaZoom Kids Books Email: donna@kazoomkidsbooks.com

Phone: (773) 717-4900

ABOUT KAZOOM KIDS BOOKS
KaZoom Kids Books is an interactive, digital publishing company that is changing the face of children's literature by promoting greater inclusivity of multicultural communities. The KaZoom Kids iStoryBooks Reading App is a custom app available for both Android and Apple devices that delivers a library of interactive books featuring diverse characters. KaZoom titles are written for children ages 3 to 8 andhighlight stories of African-American and Latino culture, family, lifestyles, and experiences.

ABOUT HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

New York City's premier community arts institution, the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA), stands uniquely apart as the sole provider of arts education in four disciplines: music, dance, theatre, art & design, all within our award-winning 37,000 square foot facility. The School's reputation for artistic rigor and excellence attracts students of diverse socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds from all five New York City boroughs, including Westchester County, and the tristate area, which includes Connecticut and New Jersey.

HSA's alumni and faculty are counted as being some of the most talented leaders in the arts. For over 50-years, HSA has enriched the lives of tens of thousands of young people ages 2-18, through world-class training in the arts. To learn more about the Harlem School of the Arts please visit www.HSAnyc.org.